The Valley of Virginia 



welcome — sunflowers, hardy asters, and cosmos following In suc- 

 cession. 



The present chatelaine of Folly keeps up the old family tradi- 

 tions and finds the same joy in her garden as her predecessors; it 

 grows and flourishes under her loving care. 



We come in from the restless world to the quiet retreat of 

 this old garden, and, as we sit beneath its grand old trees, we dream 

 of the days of old. 



Memory brings to mind many a fair young girl and brave young 

 man wandering out in the land of romance and learning, with the 

 birds, the first love-twitterings. They have all scattered far and 

 near, many of them making the history of this fair land; but the 

 enjoyment of this flower garden forever remains impressed upon 

 their minds. 



Another picture — a sad one — comes down the years. It is of 

 the turbulent days of 1864. General Sheridan had made his ter- 

 rible raid up the Shenandoah Valley and had sent General Hunter 

 on to Lexington to burn the Military Institute. As his army 

 passed by Folly, on a bright summer's day, the ladies were seated 

 out under the shade of the trees, anxiously watching. A horseman 

 was seen dashing up the avenue; he hitched his horse at the front 

 gate and walked in. He was an officer from the Federal army, and 

 asked for some refreshment. Mrs. Cochran sent her servant for 

 the meagre supply on hand and, as they were sitting with their 

 backs to the forest, they were startled by a ringing command, 

 "Surrender !" Looking around, at the back gate, they saw mounted 

 on his horse, a young Confederate scout. "Hold up your hands," 

 he said to the officer, and aside to a young lady, a sister of Mrs. 

 Cochran, he bade her lead out the ofl'icer's horse. She bravely went, 

 but it was an ordeal, for the horse was large and spirited, and she 

 a tiny frail little body. But through main force of will she brought 

 the steed to the back gate. The officer mounted, and with all haste 

 they disappeared in the woods. This daring and reckless scout 

 was John Opie, afterwards Captain Opie. He succeeded in con- 



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